The Main Course

How to Brine a Turkey

Brining a turkey takes time and effort, but results in a moist and flavorful bird.

“Brining” has always been the secret method that chefs use to make a moist and flavorful baked turkey. Many years ago I asked a chef why her turkey meat tasted so good, and she led me back to the kitchen’s large, walk-in cooler filled with birds soaking in a fragrant bath. I immediately got her recipe. But what is brining? There are two types: wet and dry. Dry brining is simply rubbing a turkey in a salt and herb mixture and letting it sit (refrigerated of course) for many hours (usually about one hour per pound). It's somewhat easier and more convenient than the alternative wet option, and advocates insist dry brining makes for a bird with a firmer meat texture, and the skin is sensational. Wet brining, which does seem to be the most …

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PIE POLL: What Kind Is Your Favorite for Thanksgiving?

Hollin Hall Pastry Shop in Fort Hunt has already sold hundreds of pies and cakes for the holiday.

Have you ever carved a cake that looks like a turkey? The Hollin Hall Pastry Shop on Fort Hunt Road sure has, and was in the process of cutting one up when Patch caught up with them Tuesday afternoon. The shop, which is closed on Thanksgiving day, has reached its limit for special orders, but they'll still have plenty on Wednesday. They are baking round-the-clock: fruit tarts, cakes, and hundreds of pumpkin, pecan and apple pies. You can still find what you want at the pastry shop on Wednesday, but you'd better get there fast. They're open from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.  "There's going to be a line going out the door all day long," said manager Nadia Patnode. "We'll probably sell out by 5 p.m."   It costs $18-$22 for a 12-inch pie. Get em' while they'…

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Looking for a Place to Dine Out for Thanksgiving?

Try these local restaurants.

Looking for a no-muss way to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner without the prep and clean-up? According to opentable.com, there are at least 40 Northern Virginia restaurants ready to serve you a grand meal on the big day. We're highlighting a few of them here or you can peruse the entire list on opentable.com. But act fast though, in some cases, restaurants are completely booked up. We're including some that are, in case you're wondering: Alexandria: Ashburn: Clifton: Fairfax: Mount Vernon:   Know of another restaurant in Northern Virginia serving Thanksgiving fare? Add it to the Comments box below.

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Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule for Trash Collection in Fairfax County

Thanksgiving and 'Black Friday' will be regular solid waste collection days.

Trash will be picked up on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 22) and the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov. 23) in Fairfax County for those receiving Thursday and Friday collection service for trash and recyling and for customers with previously scheduled collections, according to a news release from the county. All materials should be at the curb by 6 a.m. to ensure they are collected. The Recycling and Disposal Centers at the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road) and the I-95 Landfill Complex (9850 Furnace Road) will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, according to the county. Both locations will reopen Friday, Nov. 23. More information about trash and recycling collection can be found on the Fairfax County website. For questions or …

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